Chapter 72: 72. A Command Hidden in the Sword (In Honor of Ally Master Elvin2016)

72. Chapter 72: A Command Hidden in the Sword (In Honor of Ally Master Elvin2016)

Fang Xing always had clear goals.

He hadn’t bought Whale-Elephant Ointment on Chick Hawk Star because money laundering was too troublesome.

But compared to challenging a second-rank beast, he’d rather deal with the money laundering.

This was his greatest advantage—he always had a choice!

If a late-stage Qi Condensation body cultivator faced this situation, they’d have no choice but be forced into danger.

Take too many risks, and your life could be lost!

Don’t gamble, and you can never lose!

“Fellow Daoist… won’t you reconsider?”

Su Ye, slightly bewildered, completed the transaction with Fang Xing; seeing him prepare to leave, even his best cultivated patience began to fray: “Actually… I’ve already found several fellow Daoists who’ve set up an array and hired a beast hunter—we’ve tracked a wounded low-rank second-stage beast. With your participation, success is all but guaranteed.”

“No need!”

Fang Xing turned to leave, but at the doorway, he paused and looked back: “Miss Xiao Rui, Fellow Daoist Su Ye… I sincerely wish you success in your endeavor. Once this succeeds, your shop will surely produce large quantities of ‘Boiling Blood,’ and I’ll pay top price to buy it!”

“Miss!”

Watching Fang Xing’s retreating figure, Xiao Rui turned to Su Ye: “Isn’t Fang Yun supposed to be fearless? How could he be so… so…”

“I misjudged him. I thought he was the type who’d slaughter entire sects at the slightest provocation, but he’s actually so cautious… And what kind of concealment technique does he practice? Why can’t my Spirit Eyes even detect his Qi?”

Su Ye’s voice carried a hint of confusion.

“Without him, how will we carry out the plan?” Xiao Rui sounded anxious.

“Our original plan assumed he wouldn’t join anyway… We’ll just suffer greater losses. The arrow’s already on the string. Once the ‘Qingyan Ox’ recovers, it’ll be even harder.”

Su Ye sighed. She truly intended to hunt a second-rank beast.

If there were a late-stage Qi Condensation body cultivator to act as a frontline shield, it would be ideal.

If not, they’d have to charge ahead anyway.

Because that second-rank beast was tied to something of vital importance!

…

Several streets away, Fang Xing put on his glasses and watched the surveillance feed returned by the beetle.

‘Pity I didn’t see that look on Su’s face—would’ve been fascinating…’

‘Looks like they’re not targeting me—they really do want to hunt the beast. Too bad… I still won’t join.’

The mistress and maid were quite cautious, but they never imagined there could be a mechanical surveillance device with zero Qi fluctuations—so they’d revealed many secrets.

He returned to his cave dwelling and plunged back into intense cultivation.

The ‘Boiling Blood’ truly worked wonders, making him feel his Dragon-Elephant Art advancing rapidly.

According to Fang Xing’s estimate, just five or six more vials would surely push his Dragon-Elephant Art into the next realm!

Even now, every increase in proficiency strengthened his ‘Dragon Scale Elephant Armor.’

Meanwhile, he didn’t abandon surveillance of Xiao Rui and Su Ye, and successfully located their hidden base.

Though the array prevented him from probing deeper, monitoring their comings and goings posed no problem.

That day,

Fang Xing coated his entire body in ‘Boiling Blood,’ turning him into a glowing red shrimp.

His skin glowed crimson, steaming with vivid blood vapor.

Under this terrifying forging, Fang Xing felt his Dragon-Elephant Art surging forward.

【Dragon-Elephant Art: 20/100 (Beginner）】

“The essence of Dragon-Elephant is Vajra, immense strength, perfection, no leaks… I’ve already achieved the true Dragon realm—simulating Dragon-Elephant now has a method to follow…”

After completing his practice, Fang Xing lay in the hot spring bath.

It had been built by the former owner of the cave: a pool lined with river pebbles, surrounded by plum trees.

White mist rose, petals drifted down in a shower.

Floating on the water before him was a wooden tray holding warmed tiger-bone wine and a plate of roasted meat.

“After sweating it out, to drink and feast—this is truly the greatest joy of mortal life…”

Fang Xing leaned comfortably against the stone wall, wine cup in hand. Beside the pool, a white heron stood, its eyes projecting a hologram.

…

“Miss, I’m off!”

Xiao Rui wore a wide-brimmed hat and a green robe, a jade belt at her waist—her attire nearly identical to Su Ye’s.

“Mm. Just act normally.”

Su Ye dressed as a maid, even wearing a flesh mask that made her resemble Xiao Rui by seventy or eighty percent.

After Xiao Rui departed, she slipped out the back door, slipped into a ruin, and ignited a talisman without wind.

Her aura shifted instantly, cloaked in mist, vanishing from sight.

Half an hour later.

At the border between the marketplace and the Wildlands.

A burly old man, wreathed in smoke and flame, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant scenery.

“Long Daoist, I didn’t expect you to arrive first.”

A clear, jade-like voice rang out as Su Ye emerged from the dense forest. She now wore a shimmering five-colored Daoist robe, a white veil over her face, her late-stage Qi Condensation aura fully exposed.

The waiting old man was none other than the Long elder who had traded with Fang Xing at Fire Refining Market!

The Long elder smiled slightly: “We’re all under Qingxuan Sect, bound by the same roots—we should help each other… But I’m curious why you’re so fixated on that second-rank Qingyan Ox.”

“Indeed. That’s precisely what I’d like to know.”

Another young voice came from beside them.

A flash of light revealed a young man with sharp eyebrows and star-like eyes, clad in Qingxuan Sect’s standard robe.

“Huh? Master Mi? Greetings, True Disciple…”

The Long elder immediately bowed.

This “Mi Weidao,” a True Disciple of Qingxuan Sect!

Qingxuan Sect had tens of thousands of Qi Condensation disciples, yet only thirty-three True Disciples—each a true genius.

Rumor had it he was under thirty and already at Qi Condensation Level Nine, with a promising path to Foundation Establishment!

Yet he, too, had bad luck and was stranded in the marketplace.

But even stranded, he still wore Qingxuan Sect attire—clearly he had absolute confidence in his strength.

Hearing Mi Weidao’s question, the Long elder turned curiously to Su Ye, awaiting her explanation.

“It’s nothing much. I’m currently refining a batch of ‘Dingzhen Pills,’ which require a second-rank spirit herb found in the Qingyan Ox’s den. I also need its blood essence…”

Su Ye replied with a faint smile.

“The ‘Dingzhen Pills’? Those that enhance the spiritual awareness of late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators and even aid in soul transformation?”

Mi Weidao’s eyes lit up: “So you’re aiming for Foundation Establishment?”

Technically, those under Qingxuan Sect were considered disciples—he hadn’t misaddressed her as “sister.”

But saying it now carried an air of imposing authority.

Clearly, Mi Weidao also had designs on the Dingzhen Pills.

“Master Mi, with your talent, you might even obtain a Foundation Pill someday—how could you understand our plight?” Su Ye sighed bitterly: “I’m just taking a chance…”

“Inside the sect, I’d be certain of Foundation Establishment. But now… sigh…”

Mi Weidao’s face showed frustration: “This time, I’ll probably miss the sect’s grand competition—and lose the Foundation Pill. Sister, you’re seeking Foundation Establishment… are you planning to leave?”

The Wildlands were perilous; Qi Condensation cultivators had almost no chance of reaching the Tamed Wilds.

But Foundation Establishment cultivators had some hope.

“I’ve thought it over—I can’t put all my hopes on the sect. Besides, the sect knows nothing about marketplace intelligence. Someone must deliver the news.”

Su Ye replied calmly.

“Sister, I’ll waive my share of the reward—just promise me that if you produce more than two Dingzhen Pills, you’ll give me one.”

Mi Weidao exhaled. Cultivators never placed hope in others. Though Dingzhen Pills were inferior to Foundation Pill materials and even the Foundation Pill itself, they were still a marginal aid to Foundation Establishment—he wanted to try one.

If no rescue came and he refused to waste his years, he’d have to force his way into Foundation Establishment.

“I think the previous terms need revision. If you produce three pills, I’ll take one as well…”

The Long elder smiled, his eyes glinting.

“You two are truly generous… I only have a seventy to eighty percent chance of successfully refining Dingzhen Pills.”

Su Ye’s bitter smile deepened, then turned serious: “But I swear a Daoheart Oath—if I produce extra pills, I’ll give them to you both. If I fail, I won’t renege on the spirit stones and materials I promised.”

“Excellent!”

“Excellent!”

Mi Weidao and the Long elder both nodded: “No time to waste—let’s move. Is the Qingyan Ox truly wounded? Where’s the beast hunter, Old Zeng?”

“I’ll summon him now.”

Su Ye sent a voice talisman.

Soon, a young man in coarse hemp, with a simple face and dusty appearance, ran over.

His Qi was weak—barely Qi Condensation Level Two or Three.

“Who are you?”

The Long elder frowned: “Where’s Old Zeng, the beast hunter?”

I am Han Qingyun...

The young man bowed: "I was ordered only by the young mistress to track the Green Rock Ox. As for Master Zeng’s matter, it has nothing to do with me."

Upon hearing this, Mi Weidao immediately turned to Su Ye.

Su Ye shook her head: "Zeng Yi has conspired with the Black Tiger remnants; he has likely sold us out. That’s why I had my maid impersonate me to stall them..."

"Indeed, free cultivators are nothing but traitors who forget loyalty for profit."

Mi Weidao sneered: "And those gangs in this marketplace—who disrespected the Upper Sect—are all worthy of death!"

Han Qingyun’s expression did not change; he accepted the insult calmly, as if it were not directed at him: "I have confirmed that the Green Rock Ox’s den is at 'Feishi Gorge.' Its wound has not yet healed, and it has been hunting other beasts recently."